Brazil
Brazil has rapidly advanced its iGaming regulatory framework, establishing itself as a significant global market. Key developments include:
Market Launch & Licensing
Effective 1 January 2025, Law No. 14,790/2023 legalised fixed-odds sports betting and online casino operations. Operators are required to obtain licenсes costing R$30 million for a five-year term. Initially, the Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) was taxed at 12%, with oversight provided by the newly established Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA).
Tax Increase
On 9 June 2025, the Brazilian government issued a Provisional Measure to increase the GGR tax rate from 12% to 18%, effective 1 October 2025. This measure aims to bolster public finances and is pending congressional approval within 120 days.
Digital Platform Integration
As of 18 June 2025, Google updated its policies to allow licensed betting and online gaming applications to be listed on the Google Play Store in Brazil. Operators must present valid licensing from Brazilian authorities and comply with Google's certification process.
Expansion of Betting Disciplines
The Ministry of Sports issued Ordinance No. 36 on 17 April 2025, expanding the list of sports eligible for fixed-odds betting. Notably, this includes the legalisation of betting on esports tournaments, provided they have authorisation from the game's developer or intellectual property holder. The ordinance also prohibits exclusive agreements between game developers and betting operators to ensure fair competition.
Financial Oversight
To combat illegal gambling activities, the SPA enacted Ordinance No. 566 on 21 March 2025, mandating financial institutions and payment providers to monitor, report, and block transactions associated with unlicensed betting operators. Non-compliance may result in sanctions and legal consequences.
Chile
Chile made some progress toward regulating online betting and gaming, but the legislation has been bogged down in Congress. In December 2023, Chile’s Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to legalise and regulate online gambling (including sports betting and online casinos). However, as of mid-2025, the bill remains stuck in the Senate with little movement.
Debates in the Senate have centred on tax rates and enforcement mechanisms, and the process has slowed to a crawl – the government even removed the “urgent” status from the bill, signalling reduced priority. The president of Chile’s casinos association has voiced frustration at the ‘slow and fragmented’ approach, noting that no significant progress has been made for over a year after the initial approval.
Curacao
In the first half of 2025, Curaçao’s new regime hit its stride: after the 31 March 2025 transition deadline, the CGB has licensed 30+ operators under its digital portal (live since July 2024) and carried out its first on-site inspections in March 2025 to enforce KYC/AML, session-timer and spend-alert requirements. In April 2025, it also issued updated guidance tightening ad-code compliance – banning marketing to vulnerable groups and mandating affiliate pre-approval of all creatives – cementing Curaçao’s shift toward an EU-aligned, reputation-focused framework.
Dominican Republic
In June 2025, the Dominican Republic proposed creating a new national regulator, the DGJA, to oversee all gambling, including online. Backed by the Ministry of Finance, the DGJA would issue licences, enforce penalties, and collect taxes, marking a shift from the current regulator, DCJA, after credibility issues.
The law proposes a 10% GGR tax or RD$5M/month fee for online operators, plus restrictions on gambling venues near schools and churches. It also strengthens AML controls and consumer protections, aiming to modernise the sector and restore trust.
Germany
In February 2025, the state parliament of Baden-Württemberg approved a legal amendment allowing residents to access online versions of roulette and blackjack—but only through the state-run operator Toto-Lotto GmbH. This move effectively creates a state monopoly over online table games in the region, limiting market competition.
The new model also introduces a progressive tax regime: 15% on gross revenue up to €300,000 per month, 20% between €300,000 and €750,000, and 25% above that. Consumer protection rules are tight, including mandatory stake limits, time delays between spins, and strict deposit caps, reinforcing the restrictive approach seen in Germany’s broader gambling framework.
While the reform brings long-awaited legal access to classic online casino games, critics argue that the monopoly model may struggle to divert players away from unlicensed operators, limiting the policy’s effectiveness.
Ghana
Ghana reversed a controversial tax policy in an effort to save its legal gambling sector. In 2023, Ghana had introduced a 10% withholding tax on all gambling and lottery winnings, which officially took effect on 1 January 2024. The tax’s rollout immediately faced issues – bettors objected, and many local punters shifted to unregulated platforms or black-market betting to avoid the payout tax.
Betting operators also struggled with implementation (e.g. how to calculate the tax on each bet win in real time) and reported losing customers to offshore sites.This U-turn in policy is being watched by other African regulators as a case study in balancing taxation with keeping the legal betting market attractive enough to compete with illegal businesses.
India
India’s online gaming industry is currently facing serious pressure on both legal and regulatory fronts.
On the legal side, the Supreme Court put a temporary stop to the government’s attempt to collect ₹1.12 lakh crore (around €11.5 billion) in back taxes from 49 gaming companies. The dispute started after tax authorities applied a 28% GST to the entire value of bets, going back to January 2018. The key issue is whether games like poker, rummy, and fantasy sports are considered “games of skill,” which would exempt them from this tax. The court’s stay will last until the next hearing in March 2025. As of June 2025, the Supreme Court has not yet delivered its final judgment on the retrospective GST stay.
At the same time, Indian regulators are stepping up efforts to stop illegal advertising by offshore gambling sites. In January 2025, the country’s ad watchdog (ASCI) teamed up with major gaming industry groups to track and report unlicensed gambling ads. This joint task force will work to spot and block illegal promotions across digital and media platforms, aiming to protect players and clean up the market.
Ireland
Ireland is preparing to launch its long-awaited gambling licensing system under the new Gambling Regulation Act. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has begun early industry engagement and announced that applications for licences will open by late 2025, starting with online and retail betting. Online casino licensing is expected to follow in early 2026, with full regulatory rollout by 2027.
The new regime will unify oversight of both land-based and online gambling (excluding the national lottery) under one authority for the first time. It introduces tiered licences for B2C operators, B2B suppliers, and charitable entities, alongside mandatory compliance checks covering ownership, finances, and tech standards.
In parallel, banks like Allied Irish Bank and EBS are preparing to introduce voluntary card blocks for gambling transactions, part of a broader push to bolster consumer protection under the new regulatory framework.
Italy
Italy is undergoing a major recalibration of its online gambling regulation, combining the launch of a costly new licensing regime with a stricter long-term enforcement plan.
In December 2024, the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) opened a new 9-year concession scheme for online gambling. Each licence costs €7 million upfront – the highest entry fee in the EU – plus an annual fee of 3% of net revenue (GGR minus bonuses and payouts). The tender closed on 30 May 2025, and selected licensees will operate under this system through 2034.
Alongside this, ADM has launched a national strategy called PIAO 2025–2027, which outlines a more assertive regulatory stance. The plan includes real-time transaction monitoring (via the SIC system), automated compliance tools powered by AI, tighter deadlines for reporting, and closer cooperation with Italy’s financial police to strengthen AML enforcement. The stated goal is to make enforcement "smarter, faster, and more transparent" – with results and KPIs published publicly.
In parallel, the regulator has publicly questioned the viability of Italy’s 2018 gambling ad ban, calling it outdated and inconsistent with a liberal market. ADM president Roberto Alesse confirmed that a review of the Dignity Decree's restrictions is underway, particularly as it collides with the implementation of the new licensing framework.
Kenya
In the first half of 2025, Kenya overhauled its gambling regulation across taxation, advertising, and product oversight.
Most notably, Parliament slashed the excise duty on betting from 15% to 5% in June, reversing an earlier hike and shifting the tax point from bet placement to deposit – a move aimed at improving compliance and lowering the cost of play. Lotteries and prize draws are now taxed the same way.
At the same time, Kenya introduced sweeping restrictions on gambling advertising. Following a national ad blackout in May, regulators banned the use of influencers and religious figures in all gambling promotions. All ads must now carry harm warnings, avoid glamorising gambling, and receive pre-approval from the Betting Control and Licensing Board.
Regulators also moved against ‘crash’ games like Aviator, demanding transparency around game mechanics, licensing, and fairness certification. These games can no longer operate as standalone apps and must be integrated into licensed operator platforms.
A multi-agency task force is now preparing deeper reforms – including location bans, betting-hour limits, and possible affordability checks – signalling a clear pivot toward tighter state control.
Lithuania
Starting 1 July 2025, Lithuania will enforce one of the EU’s strictest gambling advertising regimes. A near-total ban on gambling ads will take effect, with only sports sponsorships and event broadcasts exempt until 2028. Online advertising will be allowed exclusively via direct links to licensed operators, within strict time-based ad space limits (20% daytime / 10% evening).
In parallel, the minimum legal gambling age will rise from 18 to 21, impacting all verticals, including online. To ease the impact on local media, the government will allocate €4 million in compensation for lost ad revenue.
Separately, from 1 May 2025, financial institutions are legally required to block payments to unlicensed gambling operators. Only those on an official whitelist will be allowed to process deposits, and PSPs failing to comply risk fines up to €3,800.
Malta
In 2023, Malta amended its Gaming Act (Article 56A, or Bill 55) to protect Malta-licensed operators from foreign court rulings related to gambling losses, provided they acted lawfully under Maltese law. This effectively blocked claims from players in other EU countries where online gambling might be restricted or prohibited.
In June 2025, the European Commission launched formal infringement proceedings, arguing that this “legal shield” violates the EU’s principles of mutual recognition of judgments and undermines cross-border legal enforcement. If Malta’s justification fails, the case could escalate to the European Court of Justice, potentially leading to penalties or annulment of the law.
What this means for operators:
Malta-based operators may soon lose the legal protection that currently shields them from liability in other EU states. If the law is overturned, they could face civil claims abroad and tighter cross-border enforcement. This raises compliance risks, especially for those targeting players in stricter jurisdictions.
Netherlands
In early 2025, the Dutch Ministry of Justice unveiled a strict new policy framework for online gambling aimed at significantly tightening player protection and market oversight. The new approach includes a proposed universal deposit and loss limit across all operators – with increases allowed only after an affordability check – and a shift to a default ban on gambling advertising unless operators meet elevated compliance standards.
The legal gambling age for high-risk games may also be raised from 18 to 21, and the regulator (KSA) is set to gain enhanced powers: including undercover audits, licence suspensions without notice, and the ability to compel payment providers and media platforms to cut ties with unlicensed operators.
Separately, local media have confirmed that Google adjusted its search results to exclude unlicensed gambling operators from top placements, showing only licensed brands for terms like online casino. This followed direct pressure from Dutch MPs and a formal complaint by regulator KVA to Google Europe.
A new reporting portal, Meld Vals Spel, was also launched by industry associations NOGA and VNLOK, enabling users to anonymously flag illegal operators, especially those targeting minors or offering excessive bonuses.
New Zeland
New Zealand is preparing to launch a licensed iGaming market by 2026. The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has initiated a competitive process to award up to 15 licences to online casino operators, with strict conditions on harm minimisation and player protection. Major international brands such as 888, Betway, and Bet365 have already expressed interest.
Ahead of legalisation, enforcement has intensified against offshore promotion. DIA has issued formal warnings to influencers advertising unlicensed gambling platforms, with four required to remove content and others under investigation. Fines of up to NZ$10,000 apply, with regulators focusing especially on the disproportionate gambling harm affecting Māori communities.
Nigeria
In early 2025, Nigeria introduced a sweeping reform of its gambling sector. A 5% tax on winnings now applies to residents, and 15% to non-residents, alongside a new 5% excise duty on all gambling services (deposits included); remote operators pay a discounted 4.5% on deposits. To attract foreign brands, the government launched a Remote Operator Permit, allowing licensed offshore operators to serve Nigerian players without a local entity.
Meanwhile, Google banned all gambling-related advertising in Nigeria from 8 January 2025, including promos, bonus codes, betting tips, and even educational content. This followed a Supreme Court ruling that dismantled the federal National Lottery Act, shifting gambling oversight to individual states.
Paraguay
Paraguay undertook a landmark reform to liberalise its gambling market.
In May 2025, President Mario Abdo Benítez signed Law No. 7348/2025, which eliminates Paraguay’s longstanding national gambling monopoly and opens up licensing to private operators. The new law updates the 1997 gambling statute by removing the clause that “national games of chance shall be operated exclusively by public tender”.
Now, domestic and international companies will be able to apply for licences to offer gambling both online and offline under a competitive framework. The law also formally establishes a strengthened regulator – the National Gaming Commission (Conajzar) – as an autonomous body under the treasury, with expanded powers to issue licenses, set regulations, and enforce compliance across all levels (national and local). Conajzar is tasked with ensuring player protections (e.g. preventing underage and illegal gambling) and can sanction unlicensed operations more effectively under the new regime.
Paraguay hopes that by demonopolising the sector and inviting private investment, it will dramatically increase tax receipts (which were about $22 million in 2024 under the monopoly). Officials predict that gambling tax revenues could double in the coming years, now that more operators can enter the market under clear rules.
Peru
Since Peru’s Law No.31557 took effect in February 2024, the online gambling market has shown steady growth. The fully digital licensing system approved 60 platforms and 280 providers in its first year, handling all applications remotely. Tax revenue is rising, with over S/5 million collected in the first month alone and annual projections near S/162 million from a market worth S/3.8 billion in wagers. The crackdown on illegal operators cut unlicensed activity by 40%, showing that Peru’s strict but streamlined model works.
Philippines
The Philippines is reshaping its gambling landscape. PAGCOR launched the PAGCOR Guarantee portal, giving users direct access to a verified list of licensed online operators – a move aimed at boosting transparency and consumer protection.
At the same time, the country is officially exiting the offshore gambling model. A bill passed in March 2025 formalises a total ban on POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), building on the executive order that shut them down by 31 December 2024. The new law introduces harsh penalties: up to 12 years in prison, fines nearing $900,000, deportation for foreign offenders, and full state seizure of assets. This marks a decisive break from a model long linked to crime and diplomatic strain.
To support local operators, PAGCOR also confirmed a cut in GGR tax from 35% to 30%, easing compliance costs and encouraging unlicensed domestic businesses to formalise. The Philippines is pivoting toward a fully onshore, tightly supervised gambling ecosystem.
South Africa
South Africa’s long-awaited Remote Gambling Bill 2025 is now before Parliament as a private member’s proposal. The bill seeks to formally legalise and regulate online gambling nationwide – introducing a single national licence, mandatory player protections, and ISP blocking of unlicensed sites.
If passed, the bill would end the current provincial patchwork model and bring South Africa in line with international regulatory standards for remote betting.
Spain
In H1 2025, Spain issued €65.4 million in fines to online gambling operators as part of its ongoing enforcement push. Thirteen unlicensed brands were each fined €5 million and banned from operating for two years. Licensed operator Codere Online was also fined €162,500 for ads allegedly targeting minors on Facebook.
Since 2021, total fines issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs have reached €398 million.
Sweden
Sweden is preparing to ban credit card use for online gambling from 1 April 2026, expanding an existing land-based restriction. Licensed operators will be required to block deposits made via credit and reject such transactions entirely, part of broader efforts to reduce consumer risk.
Separately, the government has confirmed that Casino Cosmopol Stockholm, the last remaining state-run casino, will close by January 2026. This follows years of declining revenues and the strategic shift toward a regulated digital-first market. The other Casino Cosmopol branches were previously shuttered due to low footfall.
The government also launched a formal review of gambling legislation after payment provider Zimpler AB won a court case allowing it to work with offshore operators not explicitly targeting Sweden. The review, due by 17 September 2025, will address enforcement gaps and clarify market boundaries.
Additionally, as of February 2025, licensed iGaming operators are permitted to process players’ personal data to detect fraud, suspicious bets, and potential match-fixing, under new amendments to the Gambling Act. The move aligns with Sweden’s growing focus on integrity and consumer protection in online play.
UAE
The UAE may be laying the groundwork for its first legal online casino. In June 2025, The Game LLC – operator of the national lottery and a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based Momentum – posted job listings for roles in online casino and sports betting operations. Positions included a data analyst, a casino games manager, and a commercial director, signaling preparations to expand into iGaming.
This move follows the company’s exclusive national lottery licence, granted in July 2024 by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the federal body established in September 2023 to oversee the country’s gaming sector. The licence marked the UAE’s first formal step toward regulated gambling.
To date, Wynn Resorts remains the only company with regulatory approval for land-based casino development in the UAE, through its integrated resort project underway in Ras Al Khaimah.
Although the GCGRA has not yet issued any licences for online gambling or sports wagering, recent developments suggest the UAE is cautiously preparing for a regulated digital gaming market.
United Kingdom
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is implementing a series of regulatory changes aimed at enhancing consumer protection and promoting responsible gambling. Key developments include:
- Online Slots Stake Limits: Effective from 9 April 2025, a maximum stake of £5 per spin applies to players aged 25 and over. For younger adults aged 18 to 24, a stricter limit of £2 per spin came into effect from 21 May 2025.
- Bonus and Promotion Restrictions: Starting 19 December 2025, operators will be prohibited from offering bonuses with wagering requirements exceeding 10 times the bonus amount. Additionally, cross-product promotions that encourage simultaneous engagement in multiple gambling activities (e.g., slots and sports betting) will be banned.
- Deposit Limit Requirements: From 31 October 2025, operators must prompt new customers to set deposit limits before their first deposit. Players will also receive reminders every six months to review and adjust their limits as needed.
- Statutory Levy Introduction: A mandatory levy, replacing the previous voluntary contributions, came into force on 6 April 2025. Operators are required to contribute between 0.1% and 1.1% of their gross gambling yield, depending on the sector and associated risk levels. The funds will support research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harms.
- Enhanced Supplier Oversight: The UKGC has announced plans to intensify scrutiny of software suppliers, particularly those providing services to unlicensed operators. This initiative aims to ensure that all components of the gambling industry adhere to regulatory standards.
USA
On 6 June 2025, New York Attorney General Letitia James ordered the shutdown of 26 sweepstakes-based online casinos. Shortly after, Bill SB 5935 – which would ban such business models and impose fines of up to $100,000 – passed both houses and now awaits the Governor’s signature.
This marks a clear shift in the U.S. toward eliminating so-called ‘social casinos’ and hybrid monetisation formats that skirt gambling regulation.
